4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - September 9, 2002
MICHIGAN 35,
WESTERN MICHIGAN 12
GAME STATISTICS
Team Stats
First Downs
Rushes/ ards
Passing Yards
Offensive Plays
Total Offense
Return Yards
Comp/Att/Int
Punts/Avg
Fumbles/Lost
Penalties/Yards
Time of Poss
MICH
22
49/220
226
80
446
142
18/31/1
4/12.75
1/0
8/60
27:18
WMU
17
26/76
249
63
325
91
21/37/2
3/7
5/1
6/40
32:42
Broncos' quarterbacks find
quick, aggressive D-Line
PASSING
Player
Navarre
Brinton
Totals
RUSHING
Player
Askew
Perry
Underwood
Bracken
Brinton
Navarre
Totals
RECEIVING
Player
Edwards
Butler
Joppru
Bell
Mignery
Askew
Massaquoi
Dubuc
Perry
Totals
PUNTING
Player
Finley
Totals
M I C H I G A N
C-A Yds TD
14-23 174 4
4-8 52 0
18-31 226 4
Att
3
17
13
12
3
1
49
No.
4
4
3
2
1
1
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No.
LeSueur 3
Totals 3
PUNT RETURNS
Player C
Curry, J.
Curry. M.
Totals
DEFENSE
Player
June
Heuer
Jackson
Reid
Lazarus
Orr
Stevens
Shazor
Williams
Drake
LeSueur
Curry, J.
Combs
Curry. M.
Hobson
Kaufman
Diggs
Sarantos
Casseus
Dubuc
Massey
Ofili
Rumishek
Nasif
McClintock
PASS DEFENSE
Player
Rumishek
Hobson
Jackson
Heuer
Orr
Shazor
Williams
Drake
LeSueur
Totals
Yds
23
118
35
O
234
Yds
93
44
23
10
25
14
12
9
-4
226
No.
4
4
Yds
91
91
Yds
48
3
51
Solo
S
4
4
2
3
3
3
3.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
0
1
1
Avg
7.6
6.9
2.4
4.2
.3
-3
4.5
Avg
23.3
11.0
7.7
5.0
25.0
14.0
12.0
9.0
-4.0
12.6
Yds
173
173
Lg
11
34
6
13
5
0
34
Lg
39
20
8
6
25
14
12
9
-4
39
Int
1
0
1
TD
1
0
0
0
1
TD
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
4
Avg Lg
43.3 52
43.3 52
By J. Brady McCollough
Daily Sports Writer
Western Michigan coach Gary Darnell has
declared the Broncos' nonconference slate a try-
out for the starting quarterback spot between Jon
Drach and Chad Munson.
But Saturday, the Michigan defensive line did
its best to make sure neither of the signal callers
had a chance to make an impression. The front
four led a defensive charge that did not surface
against Washington, accounting for five of Michi-
gan's seven sacks and seven of its nine tackles for
loss.
The Broncos took a page out of Washington's
playbook, trying to stifle Michigan's pass rush by
predominantly using a three-step drop, but the
Wolverines were well-prepared this time around.
"There was once or twice on three-step drops
that the guys were in our face," Darnell said.
"Short passes are just pitch-out runs, and when
you are getting sacked on those, it disrupts the
whole thing. We were depending on a quick,
short pass and we were getting sacked. You just
don't plan on getting sacked on short passes."
Said defensive end Shantee Orr: "It was good.
preparation from the coaches and better focus
from us. We have had trouble with it in the past;
we just had to perfect it today."
Preparation for the defensive line will be much
different this week with Notre Dame quarterback
Carlyle Holiday waiting in South Bend, Ind. Holi-
day hasn't shown much, if any, ability to throw
the football in coach Tyrone Willingham's West
Coast offense. He threw for just 50 yards on 7-of-
22 passing against Purdue Saturday, but he does
bring a mobility that has given Michigan prob-
lems in the past.
"I'm sure we'll get one of our fast, little
guys that we'll chase around the field all
week and get us really mad," said defensive
tackle Grant Bowman, who did not play Sat-
urday because of an undisclosed injury but
will play against Notre Dame.
Against the Broncos, the key to pressuring the
short drop was Michigan's ability to exert all its
pressure from the front four so that the lineback-
ers could drop into coverage to take away the
quick-hit passing game. Defensive tackles Nor-
man Heuer and Shawn Lazarus pushed the Bron-
cos' pocket back all day, making it easier for the
defensive ends to get to the outside.
"You have to have pressure iu two areas," said
Michigan defensive line coach Brady Hoke. "You
have to be able to push the pocket from the inside
and close it down from the outside. I think they
adjusted to what Western was doing."
Orr, who was held to one tackle and no sacks
against Washington, found his comfort zone Sat-
urday. His pressure resulted in a sack, a forced
fumble and a deflected pass that ended up in the
arms of fellow end Dan Rumishek.
"I got lucky," Rumishek said. "I threw my man
down, and it fell right into my arms."
It may have been lucky, but the Wolverines
accomplished their weekly goal of three
turnovers. In the offseason, the main focus of the
defense was to create more turnovers, as last sea-
son's group forced just two per game.
"I think we needed (to create turnovers)
after last week," said Heuer, who recorded
two sacks in the game. "We didn't think we
had enough turnovers (two), and we didn't
think we got to the ball enough, especially
the defensive front, so hopefully we'll be able
to do that against Notre Dame."
Hoke said that while he was content with his
unit's pass rush, its performance against the
No.
3
4
Avg Lg
30.3 49
30.3 49
Avg Lg
16.0 27
3.0 3
12.8 27
Asst
0
0
0
2
0
0
O
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
TD
TO
0
TD
0
TO
0
Tot
S
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
TO
0
0
0
0
0
0
> T
0
0
! 0
0
O
O
O
Broncos' rushing attack was below his expecta-
tions. Western Michigan running back Philip
Reed ran 14 times for 95 yards for an average of
almost seven yards per carry. With the Wolver-
ines expecting the Broncos to pass almost every
down, Reed was able to weave through the front
four and often get to the outside.
The Wolverines' line was able to flex its
biggest muscle: depth. In its first two games,
Michigan has been able to rotate eight to 10
AP PHOTO
Michigan defensive tackle Norman Heuer tackles Western Michigan running back Philip Reed with the
help of linebacker Lawrence Reid.
players on the line, giving its young guys
much-needed experience and its proven per-
formers a chance to rest. Saturday, redshirt
freshmen Pat Massey and Alex Ofili logged
significant minutes, picking up a sack and a
tackle for loss, respectively.
"Those first couple plays are always really
nerve-wracking," Bowman said. "So it was good
that we got some guys on the field so that they
won't be playing their first play in a big game."
Brabbs can't seem to
play lke he practices
Bracken takes advantage of first chance to play
Int
1
0
0
2
Yds
23
O
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
23
Lg
23
O
0
0
0
0
0
23
Brk-up
2
1
2
1
1
1
11
WE S T E R N M I C H I G A N
PASSING
Player
Orach
Munson
Totals
C-A
5-9
5-9
10-18
Yds TO
46 1
57 0
103 1
RUSHING
Player Att
Reed 9
Team 1
Munson 1
Drach 5
Totals 16
RECEIVING
Player No.
Lewis 4
Afariogun 3
Jennings 1
Thomas . 1
Johnson 1
Totals 10
PUNTING
PlayerI
Anderson
Totals
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No.
Jennings 1
Total1
PUNT RETURNS
Player No.
Jennings N1
Totals 1
DEFENSE
Player
Lape
Smith
Reynolds
Carr
Browning
Babin
lorillo
Ford
Robinson
Faleofa
Westgate
Malloy
Fldpausch
Mesa
Foreste
Gitler
Lewis
Gardner
Melcher
Yds
51
-2
-6
-17
26
Yds
22
36
30
11
4
103
Avg
5.7
-2.0
-6.0
-3.4
1.6
Avg
5.5
12.0
30.0
11.0
4.0
10.3
Yds
173
173
Lg
20
-2
-6
4
20
Lg
10
17
30
11
4
30
Int
2
TD
0
0
0
0
TO
TD
0
0
0
1
By David Horn
Daily Sports Editor
To Philip Brabbs' credit, there are
very few collegiate kickers that can
consistently knock in field goals
from 47 and 51 yards. But the disap-
pointment in the
Michigan kicking FOOTBALL
game was not just
that Brabbs"Notebook
missed twice on
Saturday (leaving him just one-for-
five on the year), but that the misses
were so unsettlingly ugly.
"He's got to get into a rhythm,"
quarterback and holder John Navarre
said. "He's got plenty of leg, if he
just settles down and strikes it."
Navarre, the Michigan coaching
staff and anyone else privy to
Brabbs' practice habits swear that
the kicker has had no problem
knocking them in during the week.
They suggest that the problem on
Saturdays is in his head.
"It's a confidence and everyone
just trusting their stroke," said fel-
low kicker Troy Nienberg, who
missed a field goal of his own last
weekend against Washington. "Phil
just needs to hit those kicks like he
does his extra points. He's got all the
ability in the world, and mentally, he
just has to hit them smooth and
they'll go right down the middle for
him."
BRACKEN IN: Running back Chris
Perry rushed for 120 yards last
weekend against the Huskies; he fol-
lowed up that performance Saturday
with 118 yards - 90 of which came
in the first half. Perry's success and
Michigan's 21-6 halftime lead per-
mitted coach Lloyd Carr the luxury
to experiment with sophomore run-
ning backs David Underwood and
Tim Bracken: Underwood carried 13
times for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Bracken looked particularly impres-
sive on the ground, rushing for 50
yards on just 12 carries.
"Coach told me I was going to go
in, so I was just waiting for him to
call my number," Bracken said.
Bracken's number was called for
the final five plays of the game; he
gained 27 yards on those five car-
ries.
"He's got really good vision," Carr
said. "He needed to get in a game,
have some success."
0 CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: Saturday
was an outstanding day for Michi-
gan's leadership. Linebacker and
captain Victor Hobson had a fumble
recovery and an interception, as well
as a sack. Tight end Bennie Joppru
caught three passes for 23 yards,
including an eight-yard .touchdown
from Navarre that gave the Wolver-
ines a 7-0 lead. Dan Rumishek -
not a captain but a senior leader of
the defense - had an interception,
and rumbled 23 yards before finally
being tackled by Broncos receiver
Jermaine Lewis.
Rumishek "made fun of (defen-
sive lineman Shawn Lazarus) a lot
last year for getting caught from
behind. So we'll have to tease him
about that later," lineman Norman
Heuer said.
THE INFIRMARY: There was bad
news and better news from the
Michigan trainers on Saturday.
Junior defensive lineman Grant
Bowman and senior wide receiver
Ron Bellamy both sat out Satur-
day's game with undisclosed
injuries. Carr says they will likely
play next weekend in South Bend,
Ind. That was the better news. The
bad news is that sophomore Roy
Manning - a special teams regular
for the Wolverines - had surgery
on his knee and will miss the
remainder of the season.
No.
4
4
Avg Lg
43.3 55
43.3 55
0
Yds Avg Lg
30 30.0 30
30 30.0 30
TD
0
0
TO
0
0
Yds
11
11
Solo
9
8
6
7
5
4
4
4
3
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
Yds
O
0
Avg Lg
11.0 11
11.0 11
Asst
3
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
Tot
12
8
8
7
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
TD
0
S0
BRENDAN O'DONNELL/Daily
Michigan running back Chris Perry does his best impression of fullback B. J. Askew, hurling himself into the air to gain extra
yardage. Perry rushed for 118 yards, allowing teammates Tim Bracken and David Underwood a chance to play.
PASS DEFENSE
Player
Carr
Totals
Int
1
1
Lng
0
0
Brk-up
1
17
LAYERS F THE GAME.:
The ancestral Joppru
Senior captain and tight end Bennie Joppru's touchdown catch
in the first quarter on Saturday was an unexpected beginning
to an explosive offensive day. Michigan is known for its skill
position players - quarterbacks, running backs, wide
receivers - but not so much lately for its tight ends. A look at
the recent history of Michigan tight ends, dating back to Jay
Riemersma's senior year, follows:
Year Name
2002* Bennie Joppru
2001 Bill Seymour
2001 Bennie Joppru
2000 Bill Seymour
2000 Bennie Joppru
1999 Shawn Thompson
1999 Bennie Joppru
1 000 Irnma T.ma
Rec Yds TD
4 34 1
BRONCOS
Continued from Page 11B
"This (offensive) system works - we're getting
guys the football," Navarre said.
The tone of the game was set early after Western
Michigan worked down the field easily, but came up
short after Broncos' kicker Robert Menchinger
missed a 36-yard field goal.
Michigan took advantage of the disappointed West-
ern Michigan defense by turning around and scoring
a touchdown on a nine-play, 80-yard drive, capped
off by an eight-yard Bennie Joppru reception.
"When we took it down the first time and when we
came off the field without any points, I thought it
was a huge letdown at that particular point," Darnell
said.
Michigan further deflated the Broncos on its ensu-
ing possession with another touchdown-scoring drive
on 10 plays over 53 yards, which was highlighted by
a 23-yard reception by Edwards - the first of many
deen nav hv the emeroing star
9
27
17
8
11
14
4
97
270 0
118 1
95
52
2
0
162 2
51 2
9A7 1
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